Lattice panel spacer for holding a plurality of lugs in a compact, rigid unit



Feb. 12, 1952. c HUEBNER 2,585,778

LATTICE PANEL SPACER FOR HOLDING A PLURALITY OF LUGS IN A COMPACT, RIGID UNIT Filed March 27, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVEN TOR.

Fb. 12, 1952 F g, HUEBNER 2,585,778

n LATTICE PANEL SPAbER FOR HOLDING -A PLURALITY OF LUGS IN A COMPACT, RIGID UNIT Filed March 27, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN V EN TOR.

(7 4mg WM Feb. 12, 1952 c HUEBNER 2,585,778

LATTICE PANEL SPACER FOR HOLDING A PLURALITY OF LUGS IN A COMPACT, RIGID UNIT 1 Filed March 27, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVEN TOR.

Patented Feb. 12, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE LATTICE PANEL SPACER FOR HOLDING A PLURALITY OF LUGS RIGID UNIT IN A COMPACT,

7 Claims.

My invention relates to a lattice panel spacer for holding a plurality of rows of stacked lugs or boxes, known collectively as a pack, in a rigid unit by frictional contact between the spacers and the lugs forming the pack. It is known that in existing art there is a gate, or spacer having horizontal binder elements attached to upright posts which is used in a limited manner for the purpose of making packs of lugs rigid. In the present art however, it is necessary to space the stacks of lugs apart in the rows of stacks of lugs to make room for inserting the posts and when it is desired to limit the size of the space, or to place the stacks of lugs in contact relation, and there is insufficient space for the disposal of the posts, the art as heretofore developed cannot be used. In my improvement it is optional whether space is left between adjacent stacks within the row of stacks, or whether the size of the space is diminished, or whether the stacks are positioned in contact relation.

Another object is the formation of a pack for shipping which is held rigidly both horizontally and vertically.

Another object is that the relative cost of the lattice panel spacers is less than the devices now used for that purpose.

These and other objects hereinafter. referred to are accomplished by the lattice panel spacers hereinafter described and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:'

Fig. 1 is a fractional view of a railroad car loaded with boxes or lugs with a space in the approximate lineal center of the car adapted to receive means for compressing the pack at either end of the car in a rigid unit.

Fig. 2 is a cross sectional view of the loaded car shown in Fig. 1 along broken line 2-2.

Fig. 3 is a cross section view of a loaded car showing ventilating avenues between rows of stacks and showing my lattice panel spacer applied for frictional contact with the lugs, and the relative location of the cross metal holding strips across the face of the lugs.

Fig. 4 is a cross section view of the car shown in Fig. 1 along broken line 4-4 showing a heavy end gate used at an end of the rows of stacks forming a pack.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a lattice panel spacer and a phantom view of a stack of boxes showing a hook formed at the upper end of the metal support, and adapted to engage the upper box in a stack of boxes.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged sectional view of a fractional wooden strip shown in Fig. 2 approximately on line 66, showing the metal strip countersunk within the wooden strip.

Fig. '7 is a similar view to Fig. 5 showing a modified form of elements in which a wire is substituted for a flat metal strip in the lattice panel spacer and the means for holding it thereon is an ordinary double pointed staple.

Referring to the drawing, in Fig. 1 I have shown a fractional railway car l0 in which a plurality of lugs I l of uniform rectangular shape are placed in stacks 40, and. stacks 40 are placed in rows crosswise in the car. The loading of the car is continued by adding additional rows of stacks 40 to the first row placed along an end of the car, with spacers l3 hereinafter described inserted between said rows of stacks 40 until the packs, or half loads, from either end approach the center of the car where a small space is left for the insertion of heavy gates 20 hereinafter described and screw expanding units 22 which can be used to clamp the two packs toward the end of the car in which the pack is located.

It is noted that between adjacent rows of stacks 40 when placed crosswise within the car are spacers l3. As shown in Figs. 2 and 3 spacer l3 consists of a lattice panel. Said lattice panel is constructed of a plurality of wooden strips l4 spaced apart the length of the height of a unit lug II. The wooden strips M are held in such parallel, spaced relation with metal strips l5 which are attached thereto with nails 23, shown in Fig. 6, or staple 24 shown in Fig. '7. Other well known means for attaching the metal strips to the wooden strips can be substituted. Metal strips [5 should be countersunk in wooden strips It so that when a lattice panel is assembled between rows of lugs, and juncture 29 (see Fig. 6) of wooden strip l4 with metal strip I5 is between the sides of adjacent lugs, the metal strip IE will not interfere with free frictional contact of wooden strip M with the contacting faces of lugs II on either side thereof.

It is noted that metal strip 15 can be a round or angular wire if desired. The strip or wire is very thin and if it is not deeply countersunk when the lattice panel is constructed, when pressure is applied to the pack of lugs and lattice spacers l3, the wires or metal strips which are projecting will be countersunk in the sides of the lugs so that frictional contact of the wooden strips with adjacent lugs will not be impaired.

When lattice panels l3 are assembled with the rows of stacks 40, the preferred practice is to have the wooden strips l4 horizontally disposed so that one of said wooden strips l4 extends along lugs ll aligned in a horizontal row of stacks 40. But, the lattice panel spacers l3 can be applied so that the wooden strips III are positioned upright along the approximate center of each stack 40 and in that case the metal straps l would extend horizontally across the pack.

Continuing on the preferred practice of applying my-invention, itis essential that. the wooden strips 14 be approximately horizontally aligned with the sides of lugs II which are horizontally 3 "aligned with 'the'wooden'strip. In Fig. 3 Ihave shown another method fortempora'rily. holding spacer l3 in -the position desired'by nailing the '-topmost wooden-strip I 4 in thespacer 13, with nails I8, to the toptier of lugs H inthe row of- --'stacks' 40. From that positionthe lattice panel can drape'downward over the row of stacks 40.

When loading a car with lugs, alternate rows of stacks-40 and lattice'panel'spacers' l3 should *be continuedfrom each'end ofthe car until the two packs; or half loads reach a selected short 5 distance from the center'cross line of'the car as shown inFig. 1. Then a heavy gate.29 is placed "crosswise within the carat the endof each pack. Gate consists of upright supports I9 and cross gmembers 2i rigidly attached thereto. Upright supports" l 9should be positioned at right angles to cross members 2 l and be spaced apart so there is one support l9 for-each stack of lugs '40, and {aligned therewith. When a gate 20. is positioned at anfen of' each.pack as'shown'in Fig. 1,

means'for compressing the two packs in two unitsjand each againstthe' end of the car in An analysis of. the invention shows that by the .use oi the lattice panel :spacers the horizontal *strips when frictionally clamped against the sides "of the lugs, "saidlugsrareifirmly held against horizontal 'shockstand' disturbances,- and the metal stripsibeingtattachedtothe horizontal strips, hold the packs vertically rigid sothat unusual movementsofthe 'car 'cannot' disarrange the top tiers of the packs. a

"While I have describedmy .means for loading lugs in cars, thesameameans can be applied to 'load'boxes ofxuniform rectangular shapes.

" iInthe foregoing specification I have, described the. horizontal'wooden slats as a necessary ele- "'ment" in my. invention. But it is'here noted that WithinZthe scope of my invention horizontal metal :"Istrapscan be substituted 'for the wooden ones by.

having the substituted straps faced to form a .ii'frictional surface so theywill adhere to. the lugs undertpressure. Or. .other suitable :material. can

exabe'thustused.

Having described my invention I claim as new and ask for Letters Patent.

1. A load of lugs held rigidly in bulk in a car having a floor, sides and ends, said load com-' prising a plurality of stacks of lugs aligned in rows parallel to an end of the car and in parallel relation to each other, spacers between contiguous .rows forming said .--load andtin frictional contact with the lugsofeach row, each spacer being constructed of a plurality of horizontal binder strips having opposed vertical faces and holding stripsattached thereto at approximately right angles, said holding strips extending entirely between opposed vertical faces of said binder strips, .the said binder strips being vertically spaced apart from each other a distance substantially equal .to the height of a lug.

2. A load of lugs as defined in claim 1 including means carried by saidspacers, engaging the top lug of an adjacent row and arranged to position "-said'spacers so that said horizontal binder strips engage each ofsaid lugs between the top and bottom thereof.

3. Spacer means for holding a plurality of stacks of lugs in parallel rows, said spacer comprising, a plurality of spaced parallel strips of uniform thickness, the spacing between said strips being substantially equal to the height of one of said lugs, means holding said strips in spaced relation with opposed faces thereof lying in parallel planes, said holding means lying entirely between said planes.

4. Spacer means as defined in claim 3 wherein said strips are elongated strips of wood having transvtrse depressions across one face and wherein said holding means are elongated strips of metal extending across and fastened to all said strips of.wood and lying in said depressions.

' 5. Spacer means as defined in claim 3 including hook means fixed to said spacer and arranged to engage the top lugs of a" row and adapted to suspend said spacer'with said strips extending along edge faces of the lugs of said row.

. 6. Spacer means as defined in claim 3 wherein said strips are elongatedstrips of wood having transverse grooves in one face'and wherein said holding means are elongated strips of metal extending across and fastened to. all said strips of wood and lying in said grooves, said strips of metal being transversely bent at one end to define hook means adapted to suspend said spacer from .the top lugs of a row with said strips extending horizontally along edge faces of the lugs of said row.

7. Spacer means as defined in claim 3 wherein .said strips. are. elongated relatively. stiff strips of material and wherein said holding means are elongated flexible strips of metal.

, FRANCIS C. HUEBNER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file .of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

